Harrisburg, Houston, Texas
Encyclopedia
Harrisburg is located within the city of Houston, Texas
, United States
.
The community is located east of Downtown Houston
, south of the Brays Bayou and Buffalo Bayou junction, and west of Brady's Island. It was founded before 1825 on the eastern stretches of the Buffalo Bayou
in present-day Harris County
, Texas
, on land belonging to John Richardson Harris. In 1926, Harrisburg was annexed into the city of Houston. The original name of Harris County
was Harrisburg (Harrisburgh) County until it was shortened after the demise of the City of Harrisburg.
John Nova Lomax of the Houston Press
said that Harrisburg has "a purple, bright blue or yellow cantina on every corner, sometimes several" and that "you just felt like you were in a border town" in a 2008 article.
, Pennsylvania
, which had been named for his grandfather. John Kirby Allen
and Augustus Chapman Allen
wanted to found a new city on a water area upstream from the Galveston Bay
. The location of Harrisburg, which had been platted by Harris in 1826, was the Allen Brothers' first choice. The brothers could not buy Harrisburg since Harris was dead, and no clear title to the land existed. The brothers founded Houston in an area which was the brothers' second choice.
In 1835, the General Council of Texas, a provisional government of Texas, made Harrisburg its capital. On April 16, 1836 during the Texas Revolution
, almost all of Harrisburg was burned by the forces of Antonio López de Santa Anna
. After the Texas Revolution ended, the city of Houston was founded just west of Harrisburg and was named county seat
of Harrisburg (later shortened to Harris) County and capital of the Republic of Texas
.
In 1851, the Buffalo Bayou, Brazos, and Colorado Railway
(B.B.B. & C.) began construction of its line between Harrisburg and Alleyton, Texas
. It began operations on January 1, 1853. Harrisburg was the starting point of the line, the first functioning railroad line in the state.
After the Civil War
, the railroad expanded and changed its name to the Galveston, Harrisburg and San Antonio Railway. Harrisburg remained an important rail town until a fire in the 1870s destroyed the rail yards, which were rebuilt in Houston.
The population of Harrisburg dwindled with the loss of the railroads and with the widening of the Houston Ship Channel
in 1919. In December 1926, the City of Houston annexed Harrisburg. The 1926 annexation of the Harrisburg area added 1293 acres (523.3 ha) of land to the city limits.
District I.
The United States Postal Service
operates the Harrisburg Post Office at 8330 Manchester Street. In July 2011 the USPS announced that the post office may close.
.
Most residences are zoned to J. R. Harris Elementary School. Some are zoned to Dávila Elementary School.
All residences are zoned to Deady Middle School and Milby High School
. Deady is located in the Harrisburg area.
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
The community is located east of Downtown Houston
Downtown Houston
Downtown Houston is the largest business district of Houston, Texas, United States. Downtown Houston, the city's central business district, contains the headquarters of many prominent companies. There is an extensive network of pedestrian tunnels and skywalks connecting the buildings of the district...
, south of the Brays Bayou and Buffalo Bayou junction, and west of Brady's Island. It was founded before 1825 on the eastern stretches of the Buffalo Bayou
Buffalo Bayou
Buffalo Bayou is a main waterway flowing through Houston, in Harris County, Texas, USA. It begins in Katy, Fort Bend County, Texas and flows approximately east to the Houston Ship Channel and then into Galveston Bay and the Gulf of Mexico...
in present-day Harris County
Harris County, Texas
As of the 2010 Census, the population of the county was 4,092,459, White Americans made up 56.6% of Harris County's population; non-Hispanic whites represented 33.0% of the population. Black Americans made up 18.9% of the population. Native Americans made up 0.7% of Harris County's population...
, Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
, on land belonging to John Richardson Harris. In 1926, Harrisburg was annexed into the city of Houston. The original name of Harris County
Harris County, Texas
As of the 2010 Census, the population of the county was 4,092,459, White Americans made up 56.6% of Harris County's population; non-Hispanic whites represented 33.0% of the population. Black Americans made up 18.9% of the population. Native Americans made up 0.7% of Harris County's population...
was Harrisburg (Harrisburgh) County until it was shortened after the demise of the City of Harrisburg.
John Nova Lomax of the Houston Press
Houston Press
The Houston Press is an alternative weekly newspaper published in Houston, Texas, United States. It is headquartered in Downtown Houston....
said that Harrisburg has "a purple, bright blue or yellow cantina on every corner, sometimes several" and that "you just felt like you were in a border town" in a 2008 article.
History
Harrisburg was surveyed in 1826 and formally named Harrisburg by its founder, John Richardson Harris. Harris named the town both after himself and after HarrisburgHarrisburg, Pennsylvania
Harrisburg is the capital of Pennsylvania. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 49,528, making it the ninth largest city in Pennsylvania...
, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
, which had been named for his grandfather. John Kirby Allen
John Kirby Allen
John Kirby Allen was born in Canasareaugh, near Syracuse in the U.S. state of New York. He, along with his older brother, Augustus Chapman Allen, founded Houston, Texas in 1836. John Kirby Allen was never married...
and Augustus Chapman Allen
Augustus Chapman Allen
Augustus Chapman Allen , along with his younger brother, John Kirby Allen, founded the City of Houston in the U.S. state of Texas. He was born on July 4, 1806, in Canasareaugh, New York, to Sarah and Roland Allen.- Early years :...
wanted to found a new city on a water area upstream from the Galveston Bay
Galveston Bay
Galveston Bay is a large estuary located along the upper coast of Texas in the United States. It is connected to the Gulf of Mexico and is surrounded by sub-tropic marshes and prairies on the mainland. The water in the Bay is a complex mixture of sea water and fresh water which supports a wide...
. The location of Harrisburg, which had been platted by Harris in 1826, was the Allen Brothers' first choice. The brothers could not buy Harrisburg since Harris was dead, and no clear title to the land existed. The brothers founded Houston in an area which was the brothers' second choice.
In 1835, the General Council of Texas, a provisional government of Texas, made Harrisburg its capital. On April 16, 1836 during the Texas Revolution
Texas Revolution
The Texas Revolution or Texas War of Independence was an armed conflict between Mexico and settlers in the Texas portion of the Mexican state Coahuila y Tejas. The war lasted from October 2, 1835 to April 21, 1836...
, almost all of Harrisburg was burned by the forces of Antonio López de Santa Anna
Antonio López de Santa Anna
Antonio de Padua María Severino López de Santa Anna y Pérez de Lebrón , often known as Santa Anna or López de Santa Anna, known as "the Napoleon of the West," was a Mexican political leader, general, and president who greatly influenced early Mexican and Spanish politics and government...
. After the Texas Revolution ended, the city of Houston was founded just west of Harrisburg and was named county seat
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
of Harrisburg (later shortened to Harris) County and capital of the Republic of Texas
Republic of Texas
The Republic of Texas was an independent nation in North America, bordering the United States and Mexico, that existed from 1836 to 1846.Formed as a break-away republic from Mexico by the Texas Revolution, the state claimed borders that encompassed an area that included all of the present U.S...
.
In 1851, the Buffalo Bayou, Brazos, and Colorado Railway
Buffalo Bayou, Brazos, and Colorado Railway
The Buffalo Bayou, Brazos, and Colorado Railway was the first operating railroad in Texas.-Name:The Colorado in its name is the Colorado River of Texas, not Colorado state. In the line's early days, it was often called the Harrisburg Railroad. In 1868, it changed owners and became the Galveston,...
(B.B.B. & C.) began construction of its line between Harrisburg and Alleyton, Texas
Alleyton, Texas
Alleyton is an unincorporated area in central Colorado County, in the U.S. state of Texas, on the Colorado River. It is three miles east of Columbus.In 2000 Alleyton had 165 residents.-External links:...
. It began operations on January 1, 1853. Harrisburg was the starting point of the line, the first functioning railroad line in the state.
After the Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
, the railroad expanded and changed its name to the Galveston, Harrisburg and San Antonio Railway. Harrisburg remained an important rail town until a fire in the 1870s destroyed the rail yards, which were rebuilt in Houston.
The population of Harrisburg dwindled with the loss of the railroads and with the widening of the Houston Ship Channel
Houston Ship Channel
The Houston Ship Channel, located in Houston, Texas, is part of the Port of Houston—one of the United States's busiest seaports. The channel is the conduit for ocean-going vessels between the Houston-area shipyards and the Gulf of Mexico.-Overview:...
in 1919. In December 1926, the City of Houston annexed Harrisburg. The 1926 annexation of the Harrisburg area added 1293 acres (523.3 ha) of land to the city limits.
Government and infrastructure
Harrisburg is in Houston City CouncilHouston City Council
The Houston City Council is a city council for the city of Houston in the U.S. state of Texas.Currently, there are fourteen members, nine elected from council districts and five at-large. The members of the Council are elected every two years, in odd-numbered years...
District I.
The United States Postal Service
United States Postal Service
The United States Postal Service is an independent agency of the United States government responsible for providing postal service in the United States...
operates the Harrisburg Post Office at 8330 Manchester Street. In July 2011 the USPS announced that the post office may close.
Public schools
Harrisburg is served by the Houston Independent School DistrictHouston Independent School District
The Houston Independent School District is the largest public school system in Texas and the seventh-largest in the United States. Houston ISD serves as a community school district for most of the city of Houston and several nearby and insular municipalities...
.
Most residences are zoned to J. R. Harris Elementary School. Some are zoned to Dávila Elementary School.
All residences are zoned to Deady Middle School and Milby High School
Milby High School
Charles H. Milby High School is a public secondary school located at 1601 Broadway in the East End, Houston, Texas with a ZIP code of 77012. Milby, which serves grades 9 through 12, is a part of the Houston Independent School District....
. Deady is located in the Harrisburg area.